Durable fiberoptic lighting arrangement

Abstract

Durable lighting arrangement comprising a housing of generally cylindrical shape with a forward end for emitting light and a rearward end is disclosed. A light-transparent aperture located towards the forward end of the housing. A light-transmitting conduit enters the housing rearwardly of the light-transparent aperture with at least one plate that is mounted to the housing. The plate is mounted perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing that has one or more light apertures. The light apertures provide structural reinforcement to the generally forward area of said housing.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a fiberoptic lighting arrangement that is especially durable and, therefore able to withstand considerable crushing and impact forces. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] One type of lighting arrangement is used to illuminate docks, where trucks load and unload material. Such lights are called “dock lights,” and are used to aid vision when loading or unloading semi trailers and other vehicles on shipping docks. [0003] Conventional “dock light” lighting arrangements use standard light fixtures with a so-called parabolic aluminized reflector (PAR) type lighting (or similar), quartz halogen or incandescent lamp made of glass. The problem with such arrangements is that they are not very durable. Operators of forklifts who load and unload material from trucks, are typically pressed for time. A typical forklift is that sold under the trademark TOWMOTOR. The result is that forklift operators often move too fast, and sometimes ca...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention is a durable lighting arrangement that can withstand jolting and crushing forces. It consists of a cylindrical housing with a light-transmissive aperture and a light-transmitting conduit that enters the housing. The conduit is mounted perpendicular to the housing's longitudinal axis and has one or more light apertures that provide structural reinforcement to the housing's forward area. This arrangement prevents any injuries that might be caused by the broken glass of the lamp used as the light source."

Problems solved by technology

The problem with such arrangements is that they are not very durable.

The result is that forklift operators often move too fast, and sometimes carelessly.

Often, dock lights suffer a destructive, jolting or even crushing impact either from the forklift or its load, resulting in breaking of the glass of the lamp or deformation and destruction of the lighting arrangement.

The breaking of the glass can prove dangerous to both the workers and forklift operators.

Even if a safety cover is used when consumable food is loaded or unloaded, the pieces of glass can be hazardous to the consumable food.

The effect of the breaking of the glass of the quartz halogen or incandescent fixtures results in the catastrophic failure of the lamp.

This result in problems first, a failed light result in the work being halted and the inability of any container to be loaded or unloaded at the docks until a replacement light is found.

This costs time and money, because workers often are idled while maintenance personnel replace a broken lamp and clean up any broken glass, which typically takes about 30 minutes.

Second, even though a Plexiglas-brand protection lens may be used in a conventional dock light, it is still possible for broken glass to contaminate the area during a lamp change or, sometimes, a Plexiglas-brand safety cover is missing.

Thus, the rigorous use of the light fixtures destroys a standard lamp used in the light fixtures.

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